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I somehow missed the original, ‘found footage’ film, Cloverfield and I hadn’t read any reviews at all before I went to see 10 Cloverfield Lane so had no idea what to expect. The story revolves around Howard (the fabulous John Goodman), an American prepper who has been getting ready for any and all doomsday scenarios for years. His well stocked underground bunker is decorated like a bizarre ‘Happy Days’ set complete with 50s style juke box. He’s not alone down there. There is also the girl he seemingly rescued from a car accident, Michelle and Emmett, a neighbour who asked to be let in when the ‘incident’ began. We are led a merry dance as we try to decide between truth and lies and Goodman is excellently menacing and avuncular in equal measure. The claustrophobia and tension is ramped to fever pitch and the ending is stunning. I only had a couple of reservations, first that ending for me was unexpected and disappointing..it wasn’t the ending I wanted!! Not sure that’s a legitimate reason to pout but I did! Secondly, and this is huge (SPOILER ALERT) ….the shower curtain, the damn shower curtain, surely Howard would have missed it???

‘Would that it were so simple’ a line the young heartthrob Hobie Doyle is forced to repeat in the Coen brothers comedic homage to Hollywood. I could empathise. I came away wondering if there was a hidden storyline that was so complex it went completely over my head. On the plus side it was beautifully stylish, sumptuous even and every actor surpassed in their portrayal of the world of movies in the 1950s. However each role seemed like a cameo that really had little connection to the whole. It was more pretty than plot. There were a few funny lines but, on the whole, I came away bemused.